Fig. 1
Melatonin promotes hypertrophic differentiation of MSC-derived chondrocytes. a Morphologic characteristics of aggregates post-hypertrophic differentiation at week 1 and week 3. b Alcian blue staining of chondrocytes during hypertrophic differentiation at week 1, week 2, and week 3. Scale bar = 200 μm. c Toluidine blue staining of chondrocytes during hypertrophic differentiation at week 1, week 2, and week 3. Scale bar = 200 μm. d Volume of aggregates in the indicated groups at week 1 and week 3. e Weight of aggregates in the indicated groups at week 1 and week 3. f Diameter of chondrocytes in the indicated groups at week 1, week 2, and week 3. g Volume of chondrocytes in the indicated groups at week 1, week 2, and week 3 (volume = 4/3 πR3, R = 1/2 diameter). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01